So now they falsely said, that it was Suliman who had helped Zelie
to escape, and beyond himself with fury, Cheri commanded his
foster-brother to send soldiers to bring Suliman to him in chains,
like a criminal.
After giving these orders Cheri retired to his chamber, but scarcely
had he entered, when the earth trembled, there came a great clap of
thunder, and the Fairy Candide appeared before him.
"I promised your father," said she in a stern voice, "to give you
good advice, and to punish you if you refused to follow it. You
have despised my counsels and your crimes have converted you into a
monster, the horror of heaven and earth. Now it is time to fulfill my
promise of punishment. I condemn you to take the resemblance of the
beasts you are like in disposition--A lion, because of your fury--a
wolf, on account of your greediness--a serpent, for destroying him who
has been your second father--a bull, by reason of your brutality."
[Illustration]
Hardly had the Fairy pronounced these words, when Cheri perceived with
horror that his body had been transformed.
He had a lion's head, a bull's horns, the feet of a wolf, and the
tail of a viper.
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